Italy sets up temporary camp for some 2,000 Afghan refugees

Rome, Aug 28 (EFE).- Some 2,000 Afghans evacuated by Italy will be transferred to a camp in Avezzano, in the Abruzzo region, in the country’s largest reception center operation to date.

The center is managed by the Red Cross and the Civil Protection and has some 100 tents, an outpatient clinic and toilets to accommodate Afghan families.

“The opening of our Avezzano facility to the fleeing Afghan population – represents one of the largest and most complex Red Cross reception operations to date. Hundreds of volunteers have come from all over Italy to provide hospitality, psychological and health support to these vulnerable people, demonstrating once again and in the midst of the Covid-19 emergency,” president of the Italian Red Cross, Francesco Rocca, said in a statement.

There are currently 80 volunteers and 15 representatives of the regional civil protection attending to the 1,300 refugees expected to arrive Saturday, as well as 15 doctors and nurses to distribute vaccines.

The Afghan refugees will have to pass the 10-day quarantine period and will receive the Covid-19 vaccine at the camp.

Italy, which today ended its evacuations from Kabul, has managed to evacuate 5,100 Afghans, some of whom have been transferred to army barracks to spend the quarantine period. EFE

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